Genre: Suspence, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Nikita Ravenov
It was supposed to be a simple job—tail the Italian for an evening, see if he was up to anything shady, and report back to the Bratva.
But I didn’t expect him to go into gay bars. Is someone trying to out me to the Bratva? Am I being set up?
And what the hell do I do now that my mark knows I’m following him?
Lorenzo Ferrari
It’s insulting, really. My organization wants to do business with the Russians, but they’re putting tails on me? That’s just bad manners.
But when that tail gets a beating from his own for failing to tell them everything he knows about me, I know something is up.
Now we’re both in way over our heads. Our only hope is working together.
And even then, I’m not so sure we’re getting out of this.
CW: On-page drug use, active addiction, graphic violence, suicidal ideation, domestic abuse.
The Review
Nikita “Nick” Ravenov did have one job to do, and that was to follow Lorenzo Ferrari, of the East Coast Valentino’s of the La Cosa Nostra.
This was not the job for him. His real job for the Russian Bratva was in computers. Unfortunately, he was volunteered by his ex, Yakov Stepanovich.
Why? Nick is trapped in the Bratva and there’s no way out. Yakov has threatened his family and him, telling Nick that someone would wind up dead. Nick has turned to drugs just to survive Yakov and the Bratva.
Lorenzo Ferrari is club-hopping with his nephew, which he’s not exactly thrilled about. He doesn’t do hook-ups or one-night-stands. He’s very cautious and picky about who he chooses to see. He’s on the West Coast to make some business deals for the Valentino crime family, and has a meeting all set-up with the Pakhan of the Bratva. Lorenzo catches on quickly that he’s being watched.
An incident in the men’s room has both Lorenzo and Nick rethinking their feelings.
When Nick doesn’t deliver the information that Yakov wants, things don’t go so well. Lucky for Nick, Lorenzo finds him.
Will Nick and Lorenzo be able to work together or will drastic measures need to be taken? Either way things are about to get chaotic!
Whenever L.A. Witt and Cari Z collaborate for a book, I really jump at the chance to read it. Especially one that’s gritty, violent and involves the Italian and Russian crime families. The story is fast-paced, action-packed, suspenseful, a little dramatic, wild, and steamy, and the plot is a roller coaster ride.
I’m well aware that drug usage is a very serious subject, but it’s an important issue in the story. Drugs are a double-edged sword for Nick. They keep him going in the world of the threats of the Bratva, but he never seems to overuse or do so recklessly. He has his reasons for using, and he shares those with Lorenzo.
But he wants to get clean too, and Lorenzo is willing to support him. L.A. Witt and Cari Z give a different perspective on why, how much and how often Nick uses.
There’s also the issue of sexuality that Nick and Lorenzo have to deal with – while some in the mafia have become lenient, some would sooner kill them.
In the arena of secondary characters, Roberto and George were good, solid, stand-up characters.
“You Had One Job” was a quick, fun, crazy read, for me!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
